Method of filling high-explosive containers



J. P. MADDEN AND L. FISHER.

METHOD OF FILLING HIGH EXPLOSIVE CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1921.

Patented June 27, 1922.

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narra e i FlE JAI/IES PATRICK MADDEN AND LAFAYETTE FISHER. O]? BETHLEHEM. FENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF BETHLEHEM, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF FILLING HIGH-EXPLOSIVE CONTAINERS.

incense.

Application filed June 3,

To all whomit may concern Be it known that we JAMES PATRICK MannnN and LAFAYETTE FIsI-Inn, citizens of the United States, and. residing, respectively, at Bethlehem, Lehigh County, State of Pennsylvania, and Bethlehem, Northampton County, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Filling High-Explosive Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of filling high explosive shells or containers and particularly to a method of filling such shells or containers with a charge of trinitrotoluene or other explosive materials with similar physical characteristics.

At present there are two well known methods of filling shells or containers with trinitrotoluene. In one of these, known as the casting method, the material is heated to a temperature above its melting point and while in molten condition is poured into the shell and allowed to solidify, and in the other, known as the pressing method, the material is packed into the shell while dry and in what is known as the granular or crystalline form.

The first of these methods presents certain objections since in pouring or casting the charge in the shell, considerable pains must be taken to avoid the formation of cavities in the material, and such procedure is also apt to result in the production of a charge containing large crystalline forma tions. In this method therefore it is difficult to secure the proper density or specific gravity of the material which it is necessary to obtain within close limits in order to meet the requirements usually applied.

In the second or pressing method the requisite amount of explosive can be packed into the shells by controlling the pressure used to force the material into the shells but the machine required for such operation is expensive and the operation is slow and not conducive to rapidity of loading. Furthermore, this procedure involves a certain amount of danger to operators and must therefore be carried on behind substantial barricades.

The present invention provides a method which overcomes the objections above pointed out and which enables the trinitrotoluene to Specification of Letters Eatent. Patented Jung 2], 1923 1921. Serial No. 474,837.

be easily and properly packed into the shells. Before describing this improved method. brlef reference will be made to a machine which may be employed in carrying out the method. Such machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspec-ificatimi and in which Flgure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, certain parts appearing in section, and

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the line 22 of Figure 1. 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 represents a hopper into which the explosive material may be placed. A tube 11 is connected to the lower part of this hopper and a screw 12 extends through the lower part of the hopper and through the tube 11, this screw being rotated in any suitable manner as by means of a band wheel 13. A carriage 14 mounted on the track 15 is intended to support a shell into which the material is to be packed. After being placed upon such carriage the shell is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and when in such position the tube 11 extends into the explosive receiving cavity formed in the shell. A cable 16 is connected to the carriage l4 and passes over pulleys 17, 18 and weights 19 are attached to this cable, it being understood that as the explosive is forced into the shell by rotation of the screw 12 the carriage will be caused to recede against the action of the weights 19. The density of the material in the shell can thus be regulated by varying the amount of weight employed. The lower part of the hopper is provided with a double wall forming a space 1O through which a suitable heating medium may circulate so that the material in the hopper may be properly heated.

In carrying out our invention we proceed as follows:

Approximately three parts by weight of trinitrotoluene are melted and raised to any suitable temperature, say 85 degrees C. To this is added approximately seven parts by weight of dry trinitrotoluene preferably in a powdered or finely divided condition. The ingredients are then thoroughly mixed so as to form a plastic mass. The amount of dry trinitrotoluene may of course be varied to suit circumstances and to secure the desired degree of plasticity. The mixture may be made in the hopper 10 and forced into the shells after the same attains the right plastic consistency. If desired the mixture may be made in another container which is suitably heated and from which the plastic mass is dumped into the hopper 10, the mass then being forced into the shells. In either case steam or hot water, and preferably the latter, is caused to circulate through the space 10 to heat the explosive material and maintain the same at the proper temperature.

By the foregoing method it has been found possible to pack the trinitrotoluene into shells or other containers by the application of a comparatively small amount of pressure so that the required density of charge can be obtained without use of high pressures and the employment of slow acting and expensive machinery is avoided, thus overcoming in a large measure the difficulties of the pressing method. Also the objections present in the casting method are avoided since cavitation or formation of large crystal masses will not take place.

It is. of course, apparent that various forms oi. apparatus may be employed in car rying out our improved method and that the same is not limited to the details of the particular machine described.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of filling shells or conta ers with trinitrotoluene which consists in melting a quantity of trinitrotoluene and mixing therewith a quantity of dry trinitrotoluene sufiicient to form a plastic mass, and

packing such plastic mass in the shells or containers.

2-. The method of filling shells or containers with trinitrotoluene which consists in heating aquantity of trinitrotoluene until the same becomes liquid, mixing therewith a quantity of dry trinitrotoluene until a plastic mass is formed, and then packing such plastic material in the shells or containers.

3. The method of filling shells or containers with trinitrotoluene which consists in melting approximately three parts by weight of trinitrotoluene adding thereto approximately 7 parts by weight of dry trinitrotoluene, thoroughly mixing the same whereby a plastic mass is formed, and packing said plastic material in the shells or containers.

a. The method of filling shells or containers with trinitrotoluene which consists in melting and then further heating a quantity of trinitrotoluene, thoroughly mixing therewith a quantity of dry trinitrotoluene until a plastic mass is formed, and then packing such plastic material into the shells or containers.

5. The method of forming a plastic mass of trinitrotoluene which consists of melting and further heating approximately 8 parts by weight of such material and then thoroughly mixing therewith approximately 7 parts by weight of dry trinitrotoluene.

6. The method 01"- filling shells or containers with trinitrotoluene which consists in melting and raising to a suitable temperature approximately 3 parts by weight of trinitrotoluene, mixing therewith approximately 7 parts by weight of dry trinitrotoluene, to form a plastic mass, and packing such plastic material into the shells or containers.

7. The method of filling shells or containers with explosive material solid at normal temperature which consists in melting a quantity of such material and mixing there with a quantity of the dry material sutlicicnt to form a plastic mass, and packing such plastic mass in the shells or containers.

8. The method of filling shells or containers with explosive material solid at normal temperature which consists in melting approximately three parts by weight of such material adding thereto approximately 7 parts by weight of such material in a dry state, thoroughly mixing the same whereby a plastic mass is formed, and packing said plastic material in the shells or containers.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

JAMES PATRICK MADDEN. LAFAYETTE FISHER. 

